Thank you.
I was disappointed and surprised by what you said earlier in your remarks, which you gave us ahead of time and which Mr. Arseneault also read. You wrote and said: “...communicating with Canadians in the official language of their choice is more than just a legal or policy requirement for us — it is a core communications practice.”
You went on to say that, “...federal institutions are required to communicate and offer services to the public in both official languages.”
And elsewhere, you added: “For example, every news release, statement or written product we issue is released in both English and French at the same time.”
This isn't what really happened.
It isn't what happened in Vancouver. I know that the francophone community found itself in difficult circumstances, because of the many immigrants who could only speak French. There was a lot of frustration, because we had to rely on the province for information. Fortunately, we have a provincial minister who speaks both languages.
In my view, Health Canada really failed to meet its obligations in this area.